“I’m scared,” howled Macy. “My nerves got the better of me.”
Macy slipped back into the relative safety of the leg holders. Trembling and not sure what to do next, she fixed a stare on the horizon out in front.
“Thank goodness for that,” said Romulus, who brought the wayward Zynador back under his control.
Peace had been restored once more and the rest of the flight continued uneventful.
“Brace yourself,” shouted Romulus in a strained and agitated voice. “We’ve arrived.” Swooping down in what felt like a wind tunnel the Zynador flexed its talons out in front, in preparation for landing.
“I’ll be glad to get off this creature,” cried Macy as the force of the sudden descent lifted her legs free from the restrains of the saddle. “You’d better land pretty soon... I can’t hold on much longer.” She pressed herself deep into the saddle and took a tight hold of it with both hands.
“Not long now. We’ll soon be on the ground,” cried Romulus.”
The sound of treetops snapping as the Zynador ploughed its way through them alerted Macy to just how close to the ground they now were.
She withdrew her right arm from beneath her and placed it in front of her face, to protect herself from the onslaught of dozens of whip-like twigs and branches as they folded back following the Zynador’s violent attempt at landing.
Macy was getting agitated and vented her frustration on Romulus. “Just land this thing will you. At this rate I’ll be lucky to have any hair left.”
She pulled a clump of broken twigs from within her tangled hairdo and thrust her arm out in dismay. But the truth of the matter was Romulus could do very little. He was trying his best, but steering was now out of the question... It was up to the Zynador to pick a suitable spot to land.
“It’s no good shouting at me. Try telling the Zynador … see if it’ll listen to you.” Romulus had just enough time to finish his sentence before a bone shuddering thud, followed by an ear-busting screech sang out as the Zynador finally touched down on the ground. Though touchdown was probably a polite way of assessing the Zynador’s landing technique. It was more of a crash — bang — wallop, as the out of control beast skidded sideways. Luckily, the knee-high grass and abundance of dirt beneath its massive frame came to its aid and it eventually shuddered to a halt.
“We’re here, I take it?” Macy threw her head back and clawed her muddied and bruised fingers through her matted and torn hair.
“Yes, we’re here,” said Romulus easing himself out of the leg holder. “I’ve flown on these beasts on many occasions, but I’ve got to say this was the worst flight I’ve ever been on. The landing really was atrocious.” He climbed down the scaled steps attached to the side of the Zynador and stormed around to the front and sharp end of the huge creature. “Wait until Mogatron hears about this. He’ll go off his nut when he finds out about your diabolical landing tactics.”
In a strange way it looked as though the Zynador understood every word Romulus had spoken and it placed its huge beak onto the ground and pulled both wings over its body.
“You were a bit harsh?” said Macy as she joined Romulus on the ground, just in time to see the Zynador’s remorseful actions. “It was you who had control of it. If you hadn’t wanted to land here, you could have stopped it.”
Romulus raised his eyebrows. “That’s where you are wrong. It is the Zynador who has the last say on where it wants to land, not me. Anyway, we’re safe and in one piece, and that is all that matters.”
Macy backtracked. “I didn’t realise.” She looked back at the area of grass and trees they had only moments earlier careered through and it was reminiscent of a bomb blast site. The landing path was clearly visible, with a huge corridor of torn and flattened trees strewn all over the place … not to mention a massive grooved valley gouged out of the ground, where the huge talons and belly of the Zynador had made contact at a frightening rate of knots.
Macy turned away from the crash site and Romulus came up with a suggestion on what he needed to do to locate the Spell Keeper’s underground cave. One thing that immediately sprang to mind was a vantage point from which he could see the area around him, as the grass surrounding him was far too high and he’d be lost beneath it.
“I’m sure I’ll be able to remember where the entrance is. But the grass has grown considerably since I last came here. The best idea would be for me to climb onto your shoulders, so I can get a better view.”
Macy didn’t seem too bothered about having to carrying Romulus and agreed at once ... but with one stipulation. “Don’t catch my hair in your belt buckle, please. I’ve already lost enough.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll be careful,” Romulus gave a reassuring smile as Macy knelt and he eased himself up and slotted his legs either side of her neck. “Told you it would be all right.”
“Good. Now, what can you see?”
From his heightened position Romulus scanned over the tall grass from left to right, until finally something caught his eye. “There it is. I knew I’d find it.” He pointed at an old acorn tree, with a huge split running all the way down.
Macy followed Romulus’s finger. “There are hundreds of trees around here. How do you know you’ve found the right one?”
“Hundreds, there might be. But how many can you see with splits running through them?”
“Hum,” Macy chewed her bottom lip, blew her cheeks out, and finally opened her mouth. “Fair enough. There’s only one as far as I can make out.”
“Exactly,” said Romulus elatedly. “Now, if you don’t mind, let’s get a move on and make our way over to it.”
— CHAPTER FIFTEEN —
Magic and Potions
Macy pulled-up alongside the tree containing the entrance to the Spell Keepers underground cave and the sheer enormity of its massive trunk became clear. Romulus requested that Macy head to the rear and she obliged. “Yes … this is it … this is the spot.”
“What are we looking for?” Macy asked.
“There should be a lever somewhere to open the entrance door. Keep an eye out for a thick vertical branch. If you see it let me know.”
Macy placed Romulus on the ground. “What do you mean a thick vertical branch? This is a tree you know … it’s covered in branches.” Macy smirked. “It’s going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack!”
“No, it won’t. Believe me, you’ll know when you see it.” Long grass surrounded the tree and Romulus ploughed his hands deep into it and felt his way around the trunk. “It should be near to ground level.”
Macy copied Romulus as he ferreted about through the grass, but as she had pointed out the tree was covered in branches, so it was going to be an arduous task.
After several false alarm, snapped branches and sore fingers, Macy made the breakthrough they had been searching for. “I’m on to something.”
Romulus rushed over. “Be very careful. As I recall the branch isn’t very strong, and I’ve seen what you’ve done to some of the other branches around here.”
Macy shook her head. “I can’t help it if they’re flimsy. Anyway, this one feels thicker.” She made a clearing in the grass to expose the branch further. It was different to the others … not so rough and had the shaped of a hockey stick. But as she leant forward she felt the branch brush against her knee and recoiled in shock as the activation mechanism kicked in. “What have I done?”
“Good work,” cried Romulus. “I was going to do it myself, but now you have saved me the job.” He hadn’t realised that what Macy had done was a complete accident. But it didn’t matter, her actions had resulted in the desired effect, and the hidden doorway to the Spell Keeper’s underground dwelling began to open.
A teeth-grinding screech filled the air as two powerful chains ground and eased their way free, and the doorway incorporated within the giant tree trunk opened like a medieval castle drawbridge.
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that,” gasped Macy. She moved forward a
nd peered into the open void. An intense orange light from dozens of fire torches blasted out and caused them both to shield their eyes.
It was humid, and a pungent aroma filled the air, similar to the stench in the crypt they had entered in the Forbidden Garden.
“There should be some steps leading down close by,” said Romulus and he moved from second to first place, courtesy of a short sprint. “Ah, there they are.”
Macy followed Romulus with her eyes, then her feet. “Tell me the truth … are you sure about this? There aren’t going to be any Goblin Soldiers waiting around the corner, are there?”
Romulus smirked, as if Macy had said something funny. “No, not in here. Believe me, we are as safe as safe can be.” He stopped in his tracks and Macy bumped into him.
“What are you doing?” Macy asked.
“I just remembered something,” said Romulus. “We aren’t in the Nebier Forest anymore.”
“How come?”
“Think back to the first time we met,” said Romulus.
Macy looked bewildered. “It’s not ringing any bells. Enlighten me.”
“I told you, Olivia and Jack where the Spell Keepers home was situated when we all met in the bedroom. It sits near the border between the Nebier Forest and several other territories within the Land of Tormencer. And as far as I am aware it is approximately twenty Zynador lengths away from the Nebier Forest.”
“Really?” said Macy underwhelmingly. “So we are a whole twenty Zynador lengths away from the Nebier Forest. That’s hardly a great deal.”
“Approximately twenty Zynador length,” reiterated Romulus. “Give or take a Zynador or two.”
He studied the staircase and ventured forward. “It’s a steep descent, so be very careful. I wouldn’t want you breaking a leg now that we’ve finally made it here.”
Macy looked down at Romulus as he stood at the top of the steps. “I think I can manage, thanks. Anyway, I’m a lot bigger than you, so it’s you who needs to take care.”
“True enough,” acknowledged Romulus. “The last time I visited this place I was my normal self.” He turned to face Macy. “It might be best if you carry me.”
Macy was growing a little fed-up with the amount of carrying Romulus required as she cradled him in her arms and lowered herself onto the first step. “I’ll tell you something—” she grumbled wearily, “—it’s got its advantages being your size. The amount of carrying about you’ve had. I must have covered twice the distance as you!”
Romulus … flat on his back, looked up. “I’d swap all the lifts I’ve had to be my normal self again.”
Macy couldn’t argue with what Romulus had said, and she didn’t even contemplate trying. Instead she used all her concentration on making it safely down the steep, uneven stairs.
By now the drawbridge had retracted, sealing them within the underground cave. And, as they reached the bottom Macy placed Romulus onto the ground. “You were right about the stairs being steep… The back of my legs are killing me.”
Romulus was too busy trying to remember his way around to be concerned about Macy’s sore legs. “I just need to get my bearings, but everything is a lot bigger than the last time I was here.”
Romulus led the way as they walked slowly through the labyrinth of passageways, tunnels and doors… Their way forward was helped by a constant supply of fire torches dotted around the walls, that gave off an eerie orange glow. The fire torches also had the disadvantage of spooking Macy, as the light cast their ghostly shadows in all directions.
“This place gives me the creeps,” whispered Macy. But the glow from the fire torchers wasn’t the only thing to unnerve her. Her shoes clicked and echoed each time they met with the cobblestone floor — as with the smell, it reminded Macy of the crypt. “Are you sure you know where you’re going?”
“I’m sure,” said Romulus confidently as he continued to move forward. “Just a little bit further. Ah… No... Hang on a minute… Here we are.”
Macy was none the wiser. “Yes, but where?”
They stopped outside a large half round wooden door. The door was a solid construction of several vertical grooved slats, a steel plate top and bottom, three chunky steel hinges and a small hand size circular window with thick glass in the centre.
“This is it…” Romulus fiddled with his beard and looked up at the steel door handle. “You’ll have to open it. I can’t reach.”
Macy ushered Romulus out of her way and pulled the door handle toward her, but the door wouldn’t budge. “What’s going on?” She was getting frustrated.
Romulus had a smug look on his faced. “You have to open it away from you. Give it a good shove.”
Macy was unimpressed at not being informed of the door’s requirements earlier. “You might have told me!” She pushed forward and twisted the door handle anticlockwise and the oil-dried hinges ground apart as the door eased open. “Wow,” were Macy’s first words as she came face-to-face with the interior of the room. “It’s like the science lab.”
“Impressive, isn’t it,” remarked Romulus as he stepped inside. “This is the spell room. Where all manner of wonderful spells and potions can be found.”
The spell room held a multitude of coiled test tubes, bottles, jars and beakers filled with every conceivable colour of liquid, powder and smoke. Some bubbled and frothed, whilst others fizzed and popped. A dozen fire torches lit the room, though it could have done with a few more as it was quite a size.
It also had a cold feel about it, with unwelcoming black walls and brown cobblestone floor. This was in stark contrast to the cobblestones lining the corridors, of light pink and glistening grey. A thick, heavy-duty worktop ran along the walls on three sides of the room. On top of the worktop stood all the Spell Keeper’s paraphernalia he needed for his magic and sorcery.
“Where is he?” asked Macy as she made her way over to the farthest worktop, on which bubbled a beaker of red glowing liquid.
“Don’t worry. He’ll be along soon.” Romulus looked at Macy’s position to the beaker and shouted out. “I wouldn’t get too close if I were you. The liquid you’re looking at is for placing on damaged limbs to make them better. But it does have the unhelpful side effect of making hair grow on them, ten times faster. I doubt you’d want something like that to happen to you. A beard really wouldn’t suit you.”
Macy peeled away from the beaker and checked her face, both arms and her legs for any sign of contamination. “I thought he was a sorcerer, not a mad scientist?”
“He’s a man of many trades—” replied Romulus, “—one of which is a healer. He used to look after the health and safety of all my father’s loyal subjects who lived within the Land of Tormencer.”
Out of earshot Macy laughed to herself. “A sorcerer and a healer. Is there no end to his talents?” She glanced at another strange cocktail of gurgling liquid and it bellowed out a foul-smelling odour and a cloud of green mist. “What’s this one for?”
“That’s for making thing lighter, my dear. If you spray a few drops onto something, anything it becomes as light as a feather and far easier to pick up.” The voice was not Romulus’s, it was much deeper, and caught Macy slightly off guard as she spun around.
In front of her was a man who she took to be much older than her father, staring directly at her. He had a long full-face ginger beard that ran down as far as the centre of his enormous pot belly, huge bushy eyebrows and shoulder length curly grey hair. And his clothing was just as outrageous as his facial appearance. He was dressed in a grey silk outfit consisting of a full-length, floor scraping robe, black winkle-picker shoes, and a grey full-length cloak. And to top the outfit off he wore a red hat that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a cowboy. He was certainly a remarkable and eye-catching sight to behold.
Macy swayed back on her heels and gazed at him through squint. She seemed in awe of the man before her. Though after a few silent seconds she gathered her thoughts.
“I … I … I take it he is the
Spell Keeper?” she spluttered.
“Got it in one,” said Romulus, as excitement built its way to fever pitch in his voice.
The Spell Keeper turned his attention to Romulus. “I see you’ve met Kraken, judging by your size?”
“Indeed,” replied Romulus.
The Spell Keeper stepped forward. “Well, let’s see what I can do, shall we.” He mumbled a collection of words to himself, but Macy couldn’t make head or tail of what he had said. Instead, she watched as he pulled a brown leather pouch out from an inside pocket in his robe and popped his hand inside. “This should see you right … well, hopefully. It’s something I’ve been working on for a while and this seems the ideal moment to try it out.” He withdrew his hand from the pouch and produced a palm-full of sparkling white sand. “I hope this works, otherwise it’s back to the drawing board I’m afraid.”
The Spell Keeper aimed his hand at Romulus and launched the white sand, snowball style, straight at his head. The white sand spread like sparkling confetti and sprinkled a snow globe effect of brilliant white diamonds all over Romulus.
Macy watched in disbelief as a plume of blue and grey smoke completely engulfed him.
“What have you done?” Her voice filled with anxiety. “He’s gone!”
She remembered back to how Gordrick had dispatched one of his Goblin Soldiers and was fearful for Romulus’s safety.
She needn’t have worried herself though, for as the coloured smoke finally lifted, there, standing next to her was Romulus… But unlike before, his size had increased.
“Well I never.” The Spell Keeper seemed pleased and shocked at the same time with the outcome and congratulated himself with a playful slap on his thigh, “It actually worked… For a moment I had a vision of it going horribly wrong. You can never be sure when you first use a new potion. It can backfire dramatically if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Macy Vickers and the Book of Spells Page 13
